As the day wound down, Aunt Fraya, Uncle Paul, and Jake came home from work. Uncle Paul gave me a sad look when he walked into the house, but I pretended not to notice. Aunt Fraya asked Julie and me to help with dinner. After an hour, the delicious aroma filled the dining room, wafting throughout the house. I couldn't help but smile at the food on the table.
As we ate, Aunt Fraya glanced at Uncle Paul. He shrugged, and Aunt Fraya sighed and asked me about my plans for work. I took a deep breath and said, "If you have me, I would like to work at the library. I think it would be a great opportunity to learn and to help others."
Aunt Fraya's face lit up with a smile. "Of course, John. I would be happy to have you work at the library. I think it's a perfect fit for you."
I felt relieved and happy. It was awesome that I was going to have a source of pocket money. Uncle Paul had a facial expression of relief as well.
Jake smirked. "You sure took a mountain off Dad's shoulders. He was racking his brain all day trying to figure out stuff for you to do at work."
Uncle Paul kicked at Jake under the table but missed and hit me. I yelped and jerked backward to the cackling laugh of Jake. Uncle Paul looked even more apologetically. "Sorry, John. I was aiming for that little ... jerk. And it wasn't that bad. I just..." he took a deep sigh and said, "You are very far behind the curve. I would need to explain a lot for you to become helpful at the shop. You might be able to help with the vending machine business, but you are... well, kinda useless at the shop."
Aunt Fraya shot a look of daggers at her husband. She spat out venomously, "Be nice!" Turning to me, she sweetly added, "You aren't useless. The point of this tradition is to teach you how the world works. And nowadays, the difference between the magical and non-magical realms is vast compared to the good old days."
The rest of dinner was relatively quiet, with only small conversations being exchanged between bites. I was lost in my own thoughts, feeling both relieved and nervous about starting work at the library. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was eager to learn and do my best.
After dinner, Julie and Jake helped me set up the alarm on my phone for the next day. I asked to change the alarm to something other than the angry birds. They smirked and set it to something without telling me what it was. I was nervous but didn't know how to change it. I resigned myself to be the butt of their joke.
The house slowly went quiet, and I started drifting off to sleep, which was abruptly ended by the sound of trumpets.
Over breakfast, Uncle Paul asked why the Reveille Song on Bugle was better at waking me up than chirping birds. I looked at him, confused, but Jake and Julie snickered, and I realized it was the name of the song they set as my alarm. I told him it was better since I didn't fall off the bed this time.
Before we finished eating, Aunt Fraya asked if I had the identification package done at the enclave when I went through migrant control. I shrugged, and she asked if she could see my passport. I nodded with a mouthful of wonderful coffee.
After breakfast, I quickly dressed and packed my backpack with a notebook, pen, and a few snacks. I also made sure that my passport was still in there. Walking down the stairs, Aunt Fraya asked if I was ready. With a nod, we set out to walk to the library. The sun was shining brightly, and the weather was pleasant, with just the slightest breeze, making it an enjoyable walk.
On our way, we saw Uncle Paul and Jake driving by in a different car, with Jake in the driver's seat. Uncle Paul hung out the window and waved at us, and as they drove by, he shouted, "Hey, beautiful! Want to join me for lunch?"
Aunt Fraya rolled her eyes, blew him a kiss, and shook her head in amusement, but she couldn't help but smile at his playful flirting. "He never changes," she said, chuckling.
When we walked into the library, Aunt Fraya led me to an office space and did something with a card and a machine. Then she asked me to sit down and show her my passport.
As I handed my passport to Aunt Fraya, she flipped through the pages before pausing and frowning. "John, where's your identification package?" she asked.
I looked at her in confusion. "What identification package?"
She sighed and shook her head. "When you went through migrant control, they should have given you an identification package with all of your personal information and work permit. It's required to be carried with your passport at all times while you're here. Modern times need computer verification, so that must also be put in place."
I thought back to my experience at migrant control. I couldn't recall receiving or asking for any package besides my passport. "I don't remember getting one," I said.
Aunt Fraya's expression softened. "It's okay, John. It's an easy fix. We just have to go to the enclave to get it sorted out." She paused for a second. "Actually, Jake and you were planning to head to the big city this Friday, right?"
I nodded, nervous about the subject of Friday. "Yeah, if he gets the day off from Uncle Paul."
She smiled and sat up straight. "Perfect. Please stop by and put in for an identification package." I nodded my agreement. "Great! Now, as for work, you can't officially work and get paid till that is done. What do you want to do?"
I thought about it for a second. "Do you mind if I just hang out, and you show me the ropes and everything?"
Aunt Fraya smiled sweetly. "Of course, dear."
With that out of the way, Aunt Fraya took me on another tour of the library. This time, we started with a big calendar next to the front door, where there were announcements of events and programs. She explained that for the summer, the library helped the community as a center for kids to spend time, get entertained, and not forget every last thing they learned during the school year.
After she pointed out today's day, she explained that there was an open game lab where kids could play "educational games" like history games, literature games, math games, and so on. I was fascinated, and Aunt Fraya said she'll explain at the last stop of the walkthrough.
She checked every room and sector to ensure everything was in order for the day. Several times, I picked up a cart of books that got dropped off at the last minute or in the book drop to the front desk. She would wait for me before continuing her walkthrough. She made sure the trash was taken out, the lights were on, and the rooms were clean and tidy. I watched her with amazement as she went from room to room, noticing things that would be hard to notice with magic, checking everything with a critical eye. She seemed to know everything that was going on.
The tour ended in the computer room. Aunt Fraya turned on one of the computers and showed me how to launch the various programs available to the kids that would be coming in. Then she told me to show her if I could do the same on the next computer over.
It didn't go as well as it did for her. The computer turned on, but the "mouse" just refused to obey me. Aunt Fraya told me to "type" on the keyboard when I opened something. That by itself took longer than I will admit, even to myself. For some reason, she praised me in the end. Glancing at the clock on the wall, she said it was time to open up for the day, so we left the computer room and opened the front door. To my surprise, a few people were already waiting there, and Aunt Fraya introduced me to the co-workers who came and a couple of elderly regulars who came in every day to read.
With everything ready for the day, Aunt Fraya showed me the computer system that was used to manage the library's books and resources. She explained how the system worked and how to use it. She showed me how to search for books, check them out, and return them. She also showed me how to use the printers and scanners.
As she finished up with the computer system, Aunt Fraya turned to me and smiled. "Do you think you got it, John?" she asked.
I nodded, still slightly overwhelmed by all the information she had given me. "Yeah, I think so," I said.
"Great," she said, patting me on the back. "If you have any questions, just ask. And if you ever need help with anything, don't hesitate to come find me. For today, all you should do is just shadow me to get in the flow of things."
I smiled back at her, grateful for her kindness and guidance. "Thanks, Aunt Fraya. I really appreciate it."
Shadow Aunt Fraya, I did. She had me doing random tasks like shelving books, organizing shelves, and helping patrons find books. I didn't mind the work, but the constant moving and standing was starting to wear me out. At least everyone was kind, and more than a few times, I was saved by my new co-workers.
However, Aunt Fraya seemed to have boundless energy and never stopped moving. She took me to the library's children's section, where we read stories to a group of little kids. That was the highlight of my day - the kids were so excited to hear the stories and were completely engaged in the activity. It was a nice break from all the physical labor.
After that, we moved to the computer lab, where Aunt Fraya helped a group of middle school students with their homework. I tried to help as well, but it quickly became apparent that I was technologically challenged. The students seemed to notice and didn't seem impressed with my efforts. I felt a little embarrassed and out of place, but Aunt Fraya didn't seem to mind. She just kept helping the students and checking in with me every once in a while.
This was all before lunch break. For lunch, Aunt Fraya warmed up some food for both of us. I didn't even know she packed me food. But the respite was short, and we were back to doing things in no time.
As the day wore on, I became more and more tired. My feet ached from all the standing, and my back was sore from lifting and shelving books. I watched the clock, counting the minutes until closing time.
Thankfully, today, Aunt Fraya had the early shift, and someone else was responsible for closing up. When she was done with work and announced it to me, I almost cried from relief.
She went to the office room and clocked out. After saying bye to the co-workers, whom I still didn't know all the names of, we left the library. I was almost wishing that we had driven here, but Aunt Fraya assured me it was a short walk home. I forced a smile and walked next to her on the sidewalk.
As we walked home, Aunt Fraya asked me, "So John, what did you think of your first day at the library?"
I was quiet for a moment, trying to gather my thoughts. "It was a long day," I said honestly. "I didn't realize how physically demanding it could be. But I enjoyed reading to the kids. That was really fun."
Aunt Fraya smiled. "Yes, the kids are always a highlight for me too. I'm glad you enjoyed it."
"But I have to admit, I felt a little out of place in the computer lab," I said, still feeling a little embarrassed about my lack of technological know-how.
Aunt Fraya put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry about it, John. I'm sure you'll get the hang of it eventually."
I wasn't convinced, but I grimaced and rubbed my ache back as we approached the driveway. Apollo and Jax sat at attention. The only thing betraying their joy was a twitch of their tail. Aunt Fraya paused to scratch their ears and invited them to follow us into the house.
When we were in the house, I summoned my wand and activated the minor healing spell, followed by the stamina boost. Aunt Fraya smiled at me sadly and said "Thanks for that. It might be the thing I miss the most about magic, being able to minimize consequences on a whim."
I didn't know how to answer, so I just said okay and offered help with making dinner. She said to take it easy today and prepare for tomorrow since she would give me more responsibilities upon hearing that I had lost my appetite competently.
The next day I trudged to the library with Aunt Fraya. My body wasn't sore from the previous day, but I was dreading the exhaustion. That being said I was still determined to keep up with Aunt Fraya. We did the same routine as the first day - shelving books, helping patrons, and reading to the kids.
During the kid's story time, I noticed a little girl who seemed shy and didn't want to participate. Aunt Fraya noticed it, too, and asked me to read her a book on my own while she engaged the other kids. I hesitated for a moment, but then I saw the girl's eyes light up when I approached her with the book. I started reading, and she began to relax, leaning into me as I read.
After the story time was over, Aunt Fraya approached me with a smile. "You have a way with kids, John. That was really impressive."
I blushed and thanked her, feeling a little proud of myself.
After lunch, Aunt Fraya said she needed to help with some administrative work and do a few more interviews. She was leaving me to man the computer lab by myself. I watched nervously as she left, feeling a sense of dread wash over me. Turning back to the kids in the room, I felt every pair of middle schooler eyes staring at me.
Almost on instinct, I prepared a defensive spell and was about to summon my wand, but stopped myself. Taking a deep breath, I calmed my nerves and drained the manna out of the magic circles. It didn't take 10 seconds for the meanest kid from yesterday to raise his hand and loudly ask for help with a wicked smile sitting in the corner.
I approached the kid, who was grinning at me like he had won something. "Sure, I can help you. What do you need help with?" I asked, trying to be friendly.
The kid's grin widened. "I need help with this project. It's pretty advanced stuff, so I doubt you can even understand it. Still, you need to give me access to the libraries data base, so lift the firewall. Admin access, now!." he sneered.
I wasn't certain, but I was pretty sure what he was asking for was not allowed. I pushed down my urge to give him an attitude adjustment and walked around to where he was sitting. Looking at his screen, I saw that it was logged off and asking for user name and password, and library card number.
I tried not to let his words get to me, reminding myself that he was just a kid. "I may not be an expert, but I'll do my best to help you," I said. "How about you log in to the computer using your parameters, and let show me the info you want to look up. I'll see what I can do to help you."
The kid's smirk fell, and he yelled, "No, you log in as an admin. And then leave so I can do what I need to do."
I was taken aback. I was prepared for mean remarks, snarky, even putting me down. Not to a child yelling in my face. I spent about 5 seconds processing how to respond, when the boy huffed, rolled his eyes, and sighed over exaggerated. "Fine!" He swiveled to the keyboard and typed in his info faster than I thought was even possible, and the computer logged in. He pulled out a bunch of string-on letters on a piece of paper and shoved it in my face.
I looked at the kid. "Did you type this in correctly?"
But the kid wasn't interested in breaking it down. "I already did. I need you to bypass the firewall," he snapped, looking away from me.
I shook my head, "I can't do that. It's against the library's policies and could potentially cause harm to the computer system. Is there something else I can help you with?"
The kid scowled at me. "What's the point of you being here then? You're useless." He tried shoving me. "I'll just figure it out on my own."
From across the table a hand grabbed the paper. The boy's eyes and mine snapped to a girl Aunt Fraya introduced as someone who was hired a week ahead of me. I had no idea what her name was. I was sure it started with an H. Or maybe it ended with an H?
She read the address out loud: "Play Boy dot com." She stared down the blushing boy. "First, work on your handwriting. Second, did you get this from your dad's collection? Third, you were going to open this here, in front of everyone? Last, ewe pervert, I'm reporting you."
The boy tried to grab the paper and log out but failed as the girl held the paper just out of reach. After a few attempts, he just ran out of the room.
I turned to the girl who had just helped me out. "Thanks for that. I'm sorry, I don't think I caught your name earlier."
She smiled. "It's Hannah Porter. And no worries, I'm bad with names, too. You and Jake look alike. Mrs. Fraya asked me to back you up. Her intuition is always freakishly spot on." She waved the paper she confiscated. "I'll be back in a minute. Good luck with the piranha." She gestured to the other kids in the room and sprinted out of the room as suddenly as she appeared.
I watched her go, still trying to process everything that had just happened. I even didn't have a chance to thank my savior before she was gone. Slowly I scanned the room. The kids were a mix of smirking and blushing.
One of the girls raised a hand, and with a silent sigh and brisk pace, I walked up to her and asked, "Yes, how can I help you?"
She said, pointing to the screen, "I need some help finding the reference for this and putting it into the correct format."
I blinked twice at her, trying to judge if she was making fun of me or not. I decided that she wasn't and looked at the website. "Um, I think we have a link for that." I took control of the mouse and slowly crept to the links icon. The girl smirked but didn't comment. I found the link Aunt Fraya pointed out as the one for references: "I think if you follow the instruction..." I trailed off, attempting to type.
The girl interrupted me, "That's okay, I was looking for this page." She took command of the keyboard and typed at a blistering speed. "Thank you."
That's how the rest of the day went. Thankfully, between Hannah and Aunt Fraya, I managed to make it to the end of the day. Aunt Fraya found me and informed me that we were done, nearly bringing me to tears. We walked, and Aunt Fraya praised me for my patience and perseverance, not that I felt like it was warranted.